EatonvilleNews

Rain Gardens Protect Waterways and Beautify...

(photo by Bob Walter)

Susan VanValkenburgh and Steve Weatherford discuss approaches to handling stormwater and improving their soil drainage with workshop presenter Erica Guttman, Program Coordinator, WSU Native Plant Salvage Program, during the Rain Garden Workshop Thursday in Eatonville.

"You Will Have a More Beautiful Yard"

by Bob Walter
April 2, 2008

Eatonville area residents were treated to a fascinating, free workshop last Thursday evening at the Community Center, where presenter Erica Guttman described how to transform our yards into beautiful, flowering gardens fed by water runoff from roofs, driveways and sidewalks.

Participants were instructed to bring samples of soil from their yards, and, during a break in the presentation, enjoyed getting their hands dirty learning what type of soil they were working with. Knowing the soil makeup and texture in your yard is key to planning and designing a rain garden, since soil properties determine not only how well and how fast the soil drains, but also what size and depth your rain garden will need to be, to handle the amount of stormwater produced by the impervious surfaces on your property. A home soil drainage test was also explained.

The calculations can get a little complicated, and a rain garden can cost upwards of $1,500, depending on the size, but the results can be many, and long-term: You will have a more beautiful yard. You won't have to work so hard to maintain it. You won't need to fertilize or spend as much time pulling or killing weeds. You won't have to water so often, if at all.

And most-importantly, you will be helping to protect our local streams, rivers and wetlands, our town's water supply - even Puget Sound, because all rainwater eventually reaches the ocean. That means you'll also be kinder to all the wildlife that depend on those habitats.

Possible Contaminants in our Waterways...

Consider the possible contaminants that enter our waterways: petroleum products, metals wearing from vehicle motors and other moving parts, fertilizers, pesticides and detergents used in washing vehicles. Paved and other impervious surfaces add contaminates to water and accelerate runoff, so the groundwater is less able to be recharged. Soil covered with vegetation helps to filter all of those contaminants, and slows runoff, allowing it to be reabsorbed and lessening the incidence of erosion and flooding.

Erica is a native plant expert. She can rattle off dozens of scientific names, naming plants most suitable for sun or shade, for the amount of water or drought they can handle, and for their color of flowers and foliage.

We learned a rain garden needs to be carefully excavated to avoid compaction (Rent a sod-cutter and roll up the existing sod for smaller rain gardens - much easier.).
It needs to be level at its base for the widest distribution of runoff into the ground. It needs to have washed-gravel-lined intakes and outflows to slow the water's travel and reduce erosion at peak flows. It needs a layer of soil mixed with organic compost, after which native, drought-tolerant plants are planted, followed by a layer of mulch. We also learned the fine points of mulching rain gardens. Look for heavier, coarse-textured wood chips, not finely-ground type (such as Beauty Bark), or uneven-textured types with huge sections of roots.

Rain gardens need deep watering during the first two or three dry seasons to help get the plants established, occasional mulching in places, and occasional weeding in the spring. Once the plants have taken hold, all the watering is provided by Mother Nature, with a little help from your roof.

Participants received a free "Rain Garden Handbook," published by Washington State University, Pierce County Extension. Digital copies can be obtained at http://www.pierce.wsu.edu/Water_Quality/LID .

Here are a couple more sources of information: PierceCounty@wsu.edu; 253.798.7180; www.nativeplantsalvage.org ; nativeplants@wsu.edu; 360.754.3588 ext. 110

www.stewardshippartners.org; dh@stewardshippartners.org; 253.389.2060


	*"Seek Truth Without Fear"*
	*Rain Gardens Protect Waterways and Beautify...* *(photo by Bob Walter)* Susan VanValkenburgh and Steve Weatherford discuss approaches to handling stormwater and improving their soil drainage with workshop presenter Erica Guttman, Program Coordinator, WSU Native Plant Salvage Program, during the Rain Garden Workshop Thursday in Eatonville. *"You Will Have a More Beautiful Yard"* by Bob Walter April 2, 2008 Eatonville area residents were treated to a fascinating, free workshop last Thursday evening at the Community Center, where presenter Erica Guttman described how to transform our yards into beautiful, flowering gardens fed by water runoff from roofs, driveways and sidewalks. Participants were instructed to bring samples of soil from their yards, and, during a break in the presentation, enjoyed getting their hands dirty learning what type of soil they were working with. Knowing the soil makeup and texture in your yard is key to planning and designing a rain garden, since soil properties determine not only how well and how fast the soil drains, but also what size and depth your rain garden will need to be, to handle the amount of stormwater produced by the impervious surfaces on your property. A home soil drainage test was also explained. The calculations can get a little complicated, and a rain garden can cost upwards of $1,500, depending on the size, but the results can be many, and long-term: You will have a more beautiful yard. You won't have to work so hard to maintain it. You won't need to fertilize or spend as much time pulling or killing weeds. You won't have to water so often, if at all. And most-importantly, you will be helping to protect our local streams, rivers and wetlands, our town's water supply - even Puget Sound, because all rainwater eventually reaches the ocean. That means you'll also be kinder to all the wildlife that depend on those habitats. *Possible Contaminants in our Waterways...* Consider the possible contaminants that enter our waterways: petroleum products, metals wearing from vehicle motors and other moving parts, fertilizers, pesticides and detergents used in washing vehicles. Paved and other impervious surfaces add contaminates to water and accelerate runoff, so the groundwater is less able to be recharged. Soil covered with vegetation helps to filter all of those contaminants, and slows runoff, allowing it to be reabsorbed and lessening the incidence of erosion and flooding. Erica is a native plant expert. She can rattle off dozens of scientific names, naming plants most suitable for sun or shade, for the amount of water or drought they can handle, and for their color of flowers and foliage. We learned a rain garden needs to be carefully excavated to avoid compaction (Rent a sod-cutter and roll up the existing sod for smaller rain gardens - much easier.). It needs to be level at its base for the widest distribution of runoff into the ground. It needs to have washed-gravel-lined intakes and outflows to slow the water's travel and reduce erosion at peak flows. It needs a layer of soil mixed with organic compost, after which native, drought-tolerant plants are planted, followed by a layer of mulch. We also learned the fine points of mulching rain gardens. Look for heavier, coarse-textured wood chips, not finely-ground type (such as Beauty Bark), or uneven-textured types with huge sections of roots. Rain gardens need deep watering during the first two or three dry seasons to help get the plants established, occasional mulching in places, and occasional weeding in the spring. Once the plants have taken hold, all the watering is provided by Mother Nature, with a little help from your roof. Participants received a free "Rain Garden Handbook," published by Washington State University, Pierce County Extension. Digital copies can be obtained at http://www.pierce.wsu.edu/Water_Quality/LID . Here are a couple more sources of information: PierceCounty@wsu.edu; 253.798.7180; www.nativeplantsalvage.org ; nativeplants@wsu.edu; 360.754.3588 ext. 110 www.stewardshippartners.org; dh@stewardshippartners.org; 253.389.2060 Back to Top Back to Front Page





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